How to Remove "New Item" icon on desktop

Just got this Acer One from a drawing at a tradeshow. I think they used these netbooks for on-site registration and gave them away at the end of the show. So they are not exactly "new in box". Neat looking machine. But I've never touched Linux in my life. A little mystified.

Anyway, got this "gray box" overlay on top of the screen (measuring about 1-1/2 inch tall and 1/2 inch wide on the screen). In the middle of this box there is a "sun burst" icon. When the cursor rolls over it, it says "New Item. This item has not yet been configured." It sits on top of everything, even the applications I open. I can drag it all over the desktop, but I can't figure out how to get rid of it.

Can anyone please send pointers on how to remove this thing? I really want to use this but can't seem to get off square one. Thanks.

 

What model is it,

Did it have a CD in the box?
If not download it from http://www.humyo.com/240597-160432785 recovery images.

then put the CD into another PC, boot the cd and make a recovery USB memory stick.
Or connect a CD drive to the One and boot from the CD.

You will be best off recovering the system.

 

model is Zg5. 512MG, 8G SD

I do have a recovery DVD. I'll give that a go, thanks.

 

You will be surprised at what that little box can do
If you get stuck, just ask.

 

well, stuck again. maybe temporary. Still at the tradeshow, so only computer I have is MacBook Pro. Boot off the recovery DVD, select "create USB boot device" with the arrow keys. Then launched the Acer One interface and the cursor is dead, can't proceed any further. Maybe I'll just have to wait till I get back to the office and borrow a PC. Bummer coz I was hopping to play with it on the long flight back.

Anyway, really cite about this little box. Sick and tired with lugging my laptop all over when all I need is to check email and go online sometimes. Off topic, how's the battery on these things? Can I load Skype?

 

Battery 3 cell about 2.5 hours, with wifi.
Skype, yes you need the fedora 8 linux build - details on how at this site.

On the make recovery USB, I found that it was better to attach a CD/DVD drive to the One.
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1310

If the recovery disk is bad, you can download a new one from the links on this site.

Take care that you select the right device when making the recovery USB memory stick.

What is that tradeshow?

 

Hold the Press! Found it!!

Found something called Panel Manager, under settings. Turns out that mysterious box is a "panel" and I could delete there. Yeah!

Next I'll have to figure out what exactly a "panel" is and what it does.

now I'm looking for "connection manager"...the manual says "click the * icon" on your system tray and choose the wireless access point..." But it does't tell you where the icon is or where the system tray is...

I'm Siggraph in LA. pretty good show.

 

Connection manager - Usually next to the blue EN or US bottom right of screen.
Looks like two monitors with a red cross, and when connected looks like the airport "fan" but in blue.

Reading from bottom right to left.

red power switch
clock
speaker
battery or power
CONNECTION MANAGER
Keyboard layout.

Once you get home it will be worth restoring the system anyway.

 

yeah, I'll probably do that when i get home.

Do not see what you're talking about. I was wondering how to tell the power status. If it is "hidden" I have yet to figure out how to un-hide it.

 

Have you enabled advance desktop "right click options"?
first item on this page.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=469